WARRINGTON Town boss Stuart Mellish admits his side are ‘under the cosh’ after two home defeats in the space of four days.

The Yellows were beaten 1-0 by Whitby Town on Tuesday night after Grantham Town left Cantilever Park having won by the same scoreline on Saturday.

Those two results, as well as last week’s 4-1 reverse at Spennymoor, mean a maiden campaign in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League’s top flight has started with three defeats in four games.

Speaking after the Whitby game, Mellish says his side need to learn how to manage games if they are to be successful.

“It’s difficult for us,” he said.

“We’ve come into a new division and we’re still learning. We’ve got to learn how to win games against better teams with better players.

“We’re not playing teams like Radcliffe Borough and Ossett Albion any more, we’re playing teams who can play and know how to manage games.

“That’s what I’ve said to the lads; I can’t knock their effort and work rate but we’ve got to manage games better.

“Things aren’t quite going for us at the minute; balls aren’t dropping right and we’re under the cosh a bit, but we’ve got to stick together and fight our way out of it.”

Whitby controlled possession on Tuesday without creating many chances, and Karl Wills in the Warrington goal was relatively untroubled until Dale Hopson’s 63rd-minute shot was deflected past him into the top corner.

“We struggled for the first 15 minutes or so,” added Mellish.

“Whitby got the ball down and played out from the keeper.

“They were happy to go out to the full-backs and into the midfield which worked against us in the first part of the game.

“We conceded possession in their half of the pitch, stayed solid from the halfway line and they didn’t cause us any problems for the final 30 minutes of the first half.

“In the second half they caused us no problems whatsoever and that’s what hurts.

“They had one shot which we should have closed down, but it’s taken a deflection and gone in off the bar.

“We put them under pressure for the last 20 minutes, and the effort and desire is different class.

“It’s a 1-0 defeat and it hurts. It hurt on Saturday as well, but we’ve got to keep working hard.”

Mellish also confirmed midfielder Danny Ventre is set for a spell on the sidelines after coming off injured in the first half.

“It looks like he’s done his hamstring so it looks like he could be out for a couple of weeks, which is disappointing,” he said.

“He’s been an influential player for us, but I thought Ryan Winder moved inside from the right wing and did well. He got stronger in the game and did great in the second half.”

The Yellows will now be looking to bounce back with a third home game on the spin against Matlock Town on Saturday before a trip to Marine on Bank Holiday Monday, kick off 3pm for both games.

“Matlock is going to be another tough game, they are strong, well-organised and a big set of lads,” Mellish said.

“They had a good win in midweek, but we’ve got to focus on what we do and concentrate on getting things right.

“We need a goal, once we get that it will give everyone a lift and we’ll be on our way.”